Video games have dominated the market and lured us in with their lifelike graphics and compelling storylines. This ever-changing technology has the ability to immerse us in a fantasy world that makes us all but forget about our own reality. Video games often get a bad rap because of their ability to turn any normal, active adult or child into a professional couch potato.
Not all games are created equal, however. There are some video games that will get you up and moving and even breaking a sweat by the time you are done. Letâ€™s take a look at the benefits of these games and how you can incorporate them in your daily fitness plan.
Get Moving â€“ Active video games such as Wii Fit, Zumba, and Just Dance will get your blood pumping and your heart racing. You will find that your energy levels increase and you will receive the boost needed to jump-start your metabolism. In no time these games will have you sweating like youâ€™ve just been to the gym. The level of activity is up to you. ...

Life is full of daily activities that keep you running from one point to the next. However, carving out time for some of the activities that get the blood pumping and the heart racing is a little bit harder to do. Finding time to be active as a family is important, not only for your health but for your relationships as well. Here are a few outside activities you can do to keep your family active.
Picnic at the park â€“ Pack a healthy lunch and hit up one of the local parks for the afternoon. There is no better way to get your family up and moving. This is a great way to bond and have a conversation that doesnâ€™t consist of text messages and emails.
Once you finish eating, the rest of the time can consist hitting the ball around, playing at the playground, or simply chasing your kids around for a game of tag. Either way the whole family gets some exercise and some time to connect with each other.
Take a bike ride â€“ This is such a great way to experience the outdoors with the whol...

Itâ€™s no surprise in this hectic, fast paced life that we live for the weekends. In fact, sometimes it seems like that is all we do. Itâ€™s the only way we get to experience down time from our jobs and the stress of a busy family life. Itâ€™s important to find time to connect with one another in a fun, lighthearted way and making weekend plans with your family is one surefire way to do that. So what are some unique, fun things you can do to get away and have some family time?
Visit a local museum â€“ Hit up a local museum for a day full of family fun and learning. Some museums are so big that you canâ€™t possibly see everything in one day but it will definitely be a way to keep you on your feet and moving. Museums are always adding and changing the setup so donâ€™t worry if youâ€™ve been there before. The whole family will benefit by learning something different and will be able to walk away with a newfound respect for history. Itâ€™s a great way to learn, ha...

In this fast paced life we donâ€™t often stop to smell the roses or pause to reflect on how beautiful this world really is. There are many benefits to getting outside, breathing in some fresh air, and taking in the nature around us. This is especially true for busy families who barely have time to eat dinner together.
Two activities that can pull a family together and get them moving are hiking and biking. Not only will you get some great exercise, but also you will be able to connect with your family again and strengthen those relationships. Not only that, but both hiking and biking have some fantastic benefits.
Great cardio â€“ We all know how important it is to incorporate exercise into a daily/weekly routine, but this is sometimes hard to stick to especially for busy families. However both hiking and biking are wonderful ways to get that important workout without having to visit a gym every night. Both are wonderful for your cardiovascular system. Your blood gets pumping and all th...

The ads all say you should be taking a daily multivitamin. But, can you trust the ads? After all, they are companies trying to sell a product. So, should you believe what the ads say? Why should you take multivitamins? Is it really that important?
Getting your vitamins and minerals from food rather than supplements is the best method to ensure you are receiving all the nutrients your body needs. However, there are several reasons this isn't always going to work. Many of us just don't eat right, and even when we do eat right, the nutritional levels in the foods we buy may not be as dense as they could be, or used to be. Multivitamins provide an easy way to get the nutrients you may be missing.
But, just grabbing a multivitamin off the shelf may not be the best advice. Before you buy, check the label to ensure you will be getting what you need. The vitamins and minerals you want to be sure are included are:
â€¢ Vitamin A
â€¢ Vitamin C
â€¢ Vitamin D
â€¢ Vitamin K
â€¢ Copper
â€¢ Folic A...

The busy life of a typical family today leaves little room for a scheduled fitness routine. Itâ€™s easy to make resolutions every year to hit the gym, workout every day, and live a healthier lifestyle. However, keeping with it and actually succeeding is a different story for most people. In order to retain any form of discipline in your daily life you have to incorporate small changes in your routine.
Donâ€™t go overboard â€“ No matter what fitness goals you have, itâ€™s important to remember to start small. If you arenâ€™t used to exercising make sure you work up to a super intense, hour-long workout. Donâ€™t just jump in. Find something you are comfortable doing and begin there. Take a walk for 20-30 minutes, do a round of crunches, jumping jacks or push-ups, or even just run in place for a few minutes. You donâ€™t have to start with a workout that pushes all your limits. Just start small and build up over time. This will make it easier to stick with it.
Partner...

Walking is one of the best exercises you can do, and it has many tangible and intangible benefits. Here is a partial list to get you motivated. . .
â€¢ Easy on your joints â€“ Walking is low impact on hips, knees, and ankles which means that your joints wonâ€™t be jarred or harmed as they might be by jogging or running.
â€¢ Good exercise for your heart and lungs â€“ You get a good workout without sending your heart rate too high or exerting yourself too much.
â€¢ Reduces risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and some cancers â€“ Sedentary people are susceptible to many diseases, and walking helps to lower the chances of these serious ailments.
â€¢ Benefits your entire body â€“ If you swing your arms as you walk, your entire body gets a workout, unlike other exercise plans.
â€¢ Diabetes prevention â€“ Walking just a couple of hours a week cuts your risk of developing diabetes.
â€¢ Helps you lose weight â€“ Walking burns calories, whic...

When youâ€™re away from home, it can be a real challenge to stick to your walking routine. Try these tips to stay on track, reduce stress, and stay fit no matter where you are.
Stay safe.
You need to keep your wits about you, especially when youâ€™re in an unfamiliar area. Donâ€™t walk at night, and donâ€™t walk alone unless youâ€™re somewhere with plenty of people around, such as a mall. Always be aware of your surroundings, and stay on marked trails or streets.
Rethink headphones, and either donâ€™t listen to music or use only one ear bud to leave the other ear free to listen to your surroundings.
Use the hotel treadmill.
Most hotels have a fitness room, so hop on the treadmill for a safer walk. You can watch TV, read a book, or listen to music while youâ€™re walking. Try to choose a treadmill that gives you a good view of the fitness room, and periodically take a good look around.
Ask about the best trails and paths around town.
If youâ€™re on a business t...

In order for a fitness routine to become part of daily life, you have to make certain changes in the way you live, the foods you eat, and the activities you are involved in. Itâ€™s necessary for the whole family to commit themselves to living healthier and making individual fitness goals that they can both meet and exceed. The majority of people make resolutions to do this every single year, and most of them fall short of meeting this goal. If thatâ€™s you, there are a few things you can do to make this transition easier and view fitness as the new normal in your life.
Change your Schedule â€“ make time to workout during the morning hours rather than waiting until after work. Getting in the habit of doing this may be tough at first, especially if you are used to sleeping in. You will find, however, that this routine is easier to stick to because you have no distractions to sway you from working out. Not only will your metabolism get a huge boost, but also, you will have more energy to st...

Staying motivated with your walking program can be easier said than done. Motivation is fluid and can change from day to dayâ€”or hour to hour. Here are a few tips to help keep your motivation high.
Revisit your goals.
Occasionally, motivation flags because the goals we set are too easy or are no longer meaningful. When you feel unmotivated, take out your goal sheet (you did write them down, correct?), and take a few minutes to decide if these goals are still what you want to strive for and get you excited.
Keep the end in mind.
Know what you want to accomplish and remind yourself of it whenever possible. Put pictures on your refrigerator, on your desk at work, and in your wallet. Imagine the feelings youâ€™ll have when you reach your goals, and visualize yourself meeting them.
Find support.
Sometimes all it takes to revive sagging motivation is a few encouraging words from someone else. Ask your spouse, kids, family, and friends to help you stay positive and upbeat. Hearing their opinions a...

Joining a walking group or walking club gives you social interaction while getting fit. So often, exercising is a solitary activity, so walking with a group gives you someone to talk to as well as support and encouragement. You can gently push each other to reach for new fitness goals and strive to make every moment count.
Here are some good reasons to join a walking group:
Joining a group is a great way to exercise.
When you walk with others, youâ€™ll be enjoying yourself so much youâ€™ll walk longer and farther than you would if you were on your own. Your cardiovascular fitness will improve, and youâ€™ll feel great!
It will help your motivation.
When you have a group depending on you, especially if you truly enjoy their company, youâ€™ll be more inclined to keep up with your walking. There will be days you donâ€™t feel like walking, and those are the days youâ€™ll need to just do it because not only are you doing it for yourself, but youâ€™re also doing it for your ...

Having a family, a career, and a hectic schedule leaves little time for a fitness routine. However the benefits to being physically fit are numerous and should be a priority in any family.
Choosing to make fitness a permanent part of your life takes a good amount of willpower, determination, and hard work from everyone. There are many ways you can incorporate fitness to fit your busy schedule. It may take some planning and you might have to be creative at times, just remember to stay active. Making small, positive changes to your daily routine can help rid your family of bad habits and have you on your way to a physically fit life....

Our world today revolves around the latest technology in the form of smartphones, tablets, and video game systems. Big name companies compete to bring us the latest and greatest technology and it not only has an affect on adults, but children as well.
Children today are growing up in a completely different world than it was 20 years ago. There are first graders with cell phones, teens who would rather text than talk, and video games with such lifelike graphics itâ€™s scary. The lure of these video games is especially strong in children and teens and brings with it the problem of little or no outside activity in this age group. As parents, itâ€™s important to know how to get your children involved in something other than staring at a TV screen or holding a game controller all day long.
Create a routine â€“ A daily routine can help your child get rid of bad habits and instill some discipline in the whole family. Talk to your child about getting on a schedule and let them be involved in ...

Walking is one of the safest exercise activities you can do, but you still need to be careful to avoid injury and stay safe while doing it. Let's look at some tips for staying safe and injury free.
Avoid walking at night in the dark.
Itâ€™s one thing to walk with a group at night so you stay personally safe, but another consideration is obstacles and uneven surfaces that you might miss if you walk in the dark. Itâ€™s very easy to step in holes or trip over objects on sidewalks or roads if you canâ€™t see them.
Walk facing traffic, and look both ways before crossing the street.
Traffic should be coming toward you while youâ€™re walking so you can take evasive action if necessary. Stay as close to the left as you can, and if a sidewalk is nearby, use it. No matter where you are or how secluded the area, always look both ways before crossing roads or streets.
If oncoming vehicles will have difficulty seeing you, such as on the crest of a hill, be sure to walk single file as far away fro...

Fitness does not have to involve going to a gym and working out with weights or running on a treadmill. There are a variety of activities outside of the gym that are both fun and fitness oriented. Sporting activities are one example of a way the family can spend time together and get a great workout as well. You donâ€™t have to be a professional or even bring your â€œAâ€ game, just as long as youâ€™re willing to get involved and have fun. Letâ€™s look at a few sports that will keep your family active and happy.
Volleyball â€“ This sport can be fun whether you set up a net in the backyard or get a game going on the beach. Volleyball is a wonderful sport for your overall health because it strengthens muscles in your arms and legs, allows for better hand-eye coordination, and increases your energy level. You burn a ton of calories and is a great way to tone and tighten those problems areas you may have. The whole family will get a great overall workout and walk away feeling...

During those freezing cold winter months when you arenâ€™t able to get outside and itâ€™s hard to muster up the motivation to get out and hit the gym, it can seem nearly impossible to get any exercise in. Activity levels fall to one step above couch potato and we often wonder where the excess weight is coming from. However, not all is lost. You do still have a chance to maintain some form of an exercise routine even when the snow is falling and temps are ridiculously low.
Video games â€“ this is not a suggestion to sit on the couch and stare at the television all day with a controller in your hand. Systems such as the Wii offer games where you can be up and moving while you are playing. Bowling, tennis, Wii Fit, and Wii Sports are a few games that will not only get your whole family laughing, but also keep everyone active while the snow blows outside.
Indoor obstacle course â€“ use your furniture and everyday items around the house to create a fun, unique obstacle course that you ...

Some people question whether the game of golf is a sport where you really get any exercise. They argue that golfers who ride in a golf cart from hole to hole and only walk a few feet to swing their club can't really call it exercise.
You could argue back that you are using up calories to get in and out of the cart when walking up to your ball and you're also using calories and muscles to swing at the ball. And to further your case, you could add something about it being better for you than sitting at home like a couch potato. Next thing you know, you're heaping an extra helping of dinner on your plate because you feel great about the exercise you just got on the course.
But are you really getting as much exercise out of golf as you think you are? Or as you could get? If you're riding in a cart, then probably not.
There are three levels of golf exercise:
â€¢ Riding in the golf cart.
â€¢ Walking the course while pulling or pushing your bag on a hand cart.
â€¢ Walking the course with your bag ...

People tend to have a love/hate relationship with their local gym or workout center. They are usually paying a monthly fee to be a member, and know they should go. However, after working all day, picking the kids up from school, and fixing dinner, who has time to go to the gym? It would be much easier and cheaper to find ways to workout at home. What if you were to take it one step further, and create a home gym? What are some ways you can do this in order to get the most benefit?
Find the room â€“ The first thing you have to determine when building a home gym, is where you are going to put it. In order to maintain some organization and avoid distractions while working out, itâ€™s important for the gym to be separate from everything else. Choose a guest bedroom that isnâ€™t getting used, a closed off area in the basement, or possibly part of the garage. Make a list of the equipment you want to have and make sure there is enough room for everything to fit. Once this is done you are re...